Earn a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree in Gwinnett

Thinking about going to pharmacy school? There’s one right here in Gwinnett County with the latest in research facilities and an osteopathic medical school next door. PCOM School of Pharmacy, located on the campus of the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, offers a four year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program tailored to the needs of students seeking to practice in many different healthcare environments. This past May, the school graduated its first class of 71 students who are now entering positions in retail and hospital pharmacy settings, as well as post-graduate residency training.

Having enrolled its first class in 2010, PCOM School of Pharmacy is the newest accredited pharmacy school in Georgia. Students have access to modern research labs and equipment on the health sciences campus. “Our students have many resources,” said Dr. Mark Okamoto, Founding Dean and Professor. He explained that the campus houses an anatomy lab where students can work with cadavers; teaching and practice labs which simulate both hospital and community pharmacies; as well as sterile products labs where students learn to make IV solutions and drip systems.

Students also benefit from School of Pharmacy faculty members who conduct research in pharmaceutical, clinical, and administrative sciences, sharing their expertise and involving students in their scholarly work.

Dr. Julie Wickman, Director of Experiential Education and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, said students participate in hands-on Pharmacy Practice Experiences throughout the four year program. “During the fourth year, students participate in eight rotations that are each five weeks in length. Five rotations are required and three rotations are electives, such as pediatrics, oncology, compounding, surgery and many others. The rotations are eye opening experiences that expose our students to the multiple opportunities and aspects of working in the field.”

Having the osteopathic medicine program on the same campus as the pharmacy school gives students the advantage of receiving an interprofessional education. “We have initiated programs that put pharmacy students with medical students, giving them both a sense of what the other does. It’s a great benefit for our students,” Dr. Okamoto said.

Dr. Michael Lee, Assistant Dean, Professional and Student Affairs, School of Pharmacy, concurred. “Pharmacy students learn alongside doctor of osteopathic medicine students and it’s a mutually beneficial pairing.”

The School of Pharmacy is dedicated to the needs of its students and takes its mission to heart – educating caring, proactive pharmacists according to a model of patient-centered care. This means that the practitioner assumes responsibility for a patient’s medication- related needs and is held accountable for this commitment.

To learn more about the PCOM School of Pharmacy, call 678-225-7500 or visit admissions.pcom.edu.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60503, PH 312/664-3575, FAX 312/664-4652 web site: https://www.acpe-accredit.org/